Structural mechanism of traditional wooden frames by dynamic and static tests

Abstract

This paper deals with the structural mechanism of traditional wood frames to evaluate the seismic performance of wooden buildings like Japanese temples. The outline of shaking table tests and static tests using several scale models is described and typical experimental results are discussed. From experiments, it is found that the horizontal restoring force of wooden frame without walls depends mainly on the bending moment resistance from tie beams and the restoring force due to column rocking. The equilibrium relationship between the total restoring force and all the bending moments involved is established and verified. Using this equilibrium relationship, it is possible to evaluate the restoring force due to column rocking. The restoring force due to column rocking is the major part of the total restoring force when the frame deformation is small. The bending moments from tie beams become dominant as the deformation increases. The traditional wooden frame has the large flexibility and deformability. It is essential to take advantage of the structural mechanisms found from this study in the seismic and enhancement design of traditional wooden buildings. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.